All I want for Christmas is … a little praise. It’s free, it doesn’t wear out, it’s invariably 100 percent effective, and it takes no time at all. So why don’t more managers do it, asks Neville Aitchison. Put it at the top of your Christmas gift list.

People are not mice wandering through mazes in search of cheese and getting rewards for pushing levers. But employers can greatly influence their performance by the physical environment they provide, both positively and negatively, both intentionally and unintentionally, says Terry Williams.

A flexible approach to work has helped remove any invisible barriers to people working well together and across teams, Paymark’s head of People and Performance, Heidi Parlane, tells Renée Lang.

People play a huge role in every part of sustainability, either through their action or inaction, says Michael Field. They also like to feel they’re working for an organisation that thinks like they do, so organisations need to align their moral compass with that of their employees and embrace sustainable work practices.

Don’t stop at putting your people at the centre of your employer brand, says Richard Long. Go a step further with immersive recruiting and put the job seeker at the centre of your brand experience. He explains how a mix of shared values and using social media can help create emotional employer brand engagement.

Space, air, light, safety and functional comfort are key aspects in two very different workplaces which have each seen employees move from various premises to one site. Helen Frances visited both recently to find out how togetherness is working for them.

In today’s often overwhelming work environment is it any wonder that many people feel they do their best thinking away from the office where they can focus? Ruth Donde and Graham Hart consider the elements of a brain-friendly office and explain why this concept is critical for business today.

Advances in technology mean employers and employees have more options as to how and where work is done. Following on from New Zealand’s first Telework Week, Michael O’Brien provides a guide to making teleworking work.

Everybody wins when workplace literacy is improved, says Katherine Percy. Employers who invest in improving their workforce’s literacy, numeracy and language skills are invariably surprised at the positive difference it makes.

When it comes to performance management, many employers fall short of meeting their obligations, says Bridget Smith. She explains how to ensure that genuine performance concerns are not lost in a debate about the lawfulness of the process.

The Royal Commission on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy released its report recently, highlighting an urgent need for New Zealand to make legislative, structural and attitudinal changes to avoid future tragedies. Peter Bateman reports.

Whatever style of working sales professionals employ, it is critical that incentive and commission schemes are focused on the right mix of activity to create the best value, says Susan Doughty.

Setting up an internship, or a wellness programme, is similar to starting any new initiative, says Karen Boyte. She outlines some key considerations that will help ensure a successful outcome.

With staff often working long hours and taking fewer breaks in today’s busy workplace, their health and wellbeing is likely to suffer. By ensuring wellness is part of the company culture, organisations can help staff kick-start a positive new lifestyle, says Brad Booysen.

The Employment Relations Authority recently upheld a dismissal, via Skype, of a child care worker. The use of Skype was not an issue, except that it confirmed that firing staff in this way is now acceptable, says Paul Robertson.